13 Game-Changing Shampoos You’ll Want to Lather, Rinse, and Repeat (2025)

TL;DR

For a truly luxurious wash, we love our overall winner, the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, a lavender-scented formula that creates a velvety lather and is super hydrating on dry strands. We also recommend our pick for damaged hair, the Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. It’s a Byrdie editor favorite that strengthens and repairs hair, leaving it soft, smooth, and healthy feeling.

Our Top Picks

Hair Type: Thick, dry, color-treated | Scent: Lavender | Size: 1.7, 9, 33.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Using Pureology’s Hydrate Shampoo is a luxe experience from start to finish. Firstly, the velvety richness of the lather is unparalleled, yet it rinses out with no residue left behind. The formula is packed with nourishing ingredients, including jojoba oil, green tea, and sage, to revive parched strands, and it leaves colored hair vibrant and shiny. Our tester adored the lavender scent, which provides a spa-like aromatherapy moment in the shower. Just remember that a little shampoo goes a long way—apply too much and this ultra-hydrating formula might weigh down your hair.

Kayla, tester with medium-thick hair: “I enjoyed the luxe lavender fragrance and the velvety lather this shampoo offers.”

Hair Type: All | Size: 10, 33.8 oz | Scent: Pink pepper, apple, blonde tobacco, gardenia, white cedar wood, palo santo | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our top choice for the budget-conscious is this Deep Clean Clarifying shampoo from Kristin Ess. Made with a proprietary strengthening complex, the formula helps seal split ends as it cleanses the hair and scalp, removing excess oil and product buildup. Our tester loved how lightweight it made her hair and scalp feel—she clearly noticed any dirt and buildup had been removed. These results were most noticeable after the third wash, and she enjoyed the extended day she got between washes after using it. Its light, floral fragrance is also a nice touch.

Sheila, tester with hair type 1b: “I feel like it cleaned my scalp and hair without overstripping.”

Hair Type: All | Size: 3.3, 8.5, 17.75 oz | Scent: Fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is a staple within the Byrdie beauty team thanks to its deeply reparative prowess. Like its in-salon treatment counterpart, it contains ingredients that work to repair broken protein bonds in your hair. Translation? Hair becomes softer, smoother, and generally looks and feels better. The formula is sulfate-free, so it shouldn't strip much-needed moisture—yet it still lathers well. It left our tester’s hair feeling thoroughly cleansed without that squeaky feeling that some shampoos leave behind and without any lingering spots of oiliness. It does need to be followed by a good conditioner, though, or it might feel a little drying.

Elena, tester with type 1 hair and type 2 bonded hair extensions (not shown): “As far as cleaning my scalp and hair, it did a perfect job. It really helped clean up all the build-up my dry shampoo leaves behind.”

Hair Type: All | Size: 8.6 oz | Scent: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The wrong shampoo can cause all kinds of skin issues, from breakouts to weird rashes—that’s why this pick is so excellent. The dermatologist-designed shampoo is noncomedogenic (so it shouldn't clog pores) and is formulated without a long list of possible skin irritants, including fragrance. But don’t worry, it still does a superb job as a shampoo. Our tester appreciated how gentle the formula was—it didn’t cause any irritation and never left her hair feeling dry or stripped. It lathered beautifully and did a great job removing product buildup, allowing her to stretch the time between washed by a day or two. The shampoo was also hydrating, leaving our tester’s hair shiny and noticeably less staticky. One downside is that it didn’t entirely clear flakes from her scalp.

Allison, tester with hair type 1b: “It felt like I had a professional salon wash. The shampoo was very gentle and there was no irritation and I didn't feel like my hair was left overly dry or stripped.”

Hair Type: All | Size: 3, 10 oz | Scent: Rose, bergamot, lychee, white musk, champagne | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Ever noticed how your hair feels softer or more coarse depending on where you wash it? That’s all down to how hard the water is in your location (hard water contains more minerals and tends to make hair dull and dry). This light shampoo contains clarifying apple cider vinegar and chelating agents to remove hard-water deposits, plus added keratin to strengthen the hair strands. Our tester loved how soft and healthy it left her hair feeling. It also effectively reduced oil and frizz, so she could extend the time between washes. Using this formula daily might make your hair feel stripped, so apply it once a week as a complement to another shampoo.

Sophia, tester with hair type 1b: “I do workout every day and sweat builds up on top of dry shampoo, so I think this was great at helping to detox my hair.”

Hair Type:Suitable for all hair types/textures |Size:3.3, 8.4 oz |Scent: Unscented |Sulfate-Free:Yes|Cruelty-Free:Yes

When our tester tried out this fragrance-free shampoo from Nécessaire, she gave it high marks for its gel-like consistency, great lather, and ability to reduce scalp irritation. It’s packed with great ingredients, including moisturizing hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ApiScalp to remove product buildup and reduce thinning (ideal for postpartum moms). After using it, our tester noticed improved softness and silkiness—plus, she felt it enhanced her tone, too. Truly a win, win, win scenario.

Donna, tester with thick hair: "After using this for the testing period, I have noticed that my hair has more body—it curls more than it did before, which is nice. It feels so much softer, almost like a child's hair."

Hair Type: All | Size: 2, 8.5, 33.8 oz | Scent: Sparkling cassis, watery cyclamen, and mint leaf | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We marked this shampoo highly as our tester said her hair felt like it had been given a total detox after just one use. If you live in a city or have just been on holiday and your hair feels loaded with product, sunscreen, and dry shampoo, try this formula. It provides the hair and scalp with a deep clean thanks to its key ingredient, sodium laureth sulfate, which creates a rich lather. Our tester loved its mint and cassis fragrance, which gave her a wide-awake feeling first thing in the morning. Just be sure to follow up with a good conditioner, as it can leave hair more prone to tangles.

Chrissy, a tester with hair type 1b: “The shampoo was gentle on my scalp, no irritation or itchiness. It didn’t leave my hair feeling greasy or weighed down.”

Hair Type:All textures and hair types |Size:12 oz |Scent: Apple |Sulfate-Free:Yes|Cruelty-Free:Yes

If you suffer from oily roots and feel like you need to wash your hair every day, this sulfate-free apple cider vinegar shampoo can help. It scored highly in our test as it noticeably reduced oil in our hair and left the scalp feeling super clean. We particularly loved the way it lathered well and reduced oily roots while adding both volume and shine with 98% plant-based ingredients, including argan oil, nourishing superfoods, and apple cider vinegar. It’s available to buy as a 12-ounce bottle or a larger liter size for refills. Yes, it’s on the more expensive side, but the results make it worth it.

Christine, tester with fine, wavy hair: "It cleansed both my hair and scalp really well. It feels very clean and clean for longer. It's also given my hair a nice shine that is unusual for me this time of year."

Hair Type: All | Size: 8.5, 33.3 oz | Scent: crisp apple, leafy green, mint leaf, pineapple, and white woods blend | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A dry scalp can feel itchy and look flakey, and it’s not always easy to treat. Help is at hand with this shampoo from Bumble and bumble, which achieves the difficult feat of clarifying the scalp and hair without drying them out. Quite the opposite; our tester loved how healthy and balanced her scalp felt after using this formula. One wash was all it took for an immediate reduction in flakes and irritation—plus, her hair was hydrated, shiny, and less frizzy, too.

Lisa, a tester with hair type 2b: “Not only does it effectively cleanse the scalp and hair, but it also provides hydration, nourishment, and repair, leaving hair looking and feeling its absolute best.”

Hair Type: Curly, color-treated | Size: 3.5 oz | Scent: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Shampoo bars have recently gained traction in the beauty world thanks to their combination of convenience and eco-friendliness (having no plastic packaging to dispose of is always a plus). The benefits don’t stop there. This shampoo bar, which is said to be based on a handwritten formula by J.R.Liggett, is made with olive oil, castor oil, and coconut oil to condition as it cleanses. Our tester found there was a slight learning curve with the bar (the key is to move it around, applying the bar directly to your scalp and strands), but once her hair was saturated it lathered well and a little went a long way. Rinsing the shampoo out was easy, and her hair felt squeaky clean afterward. Despite the nourishing oils, our tester did note that it wasn’t moisturizing enough for her curly, textured hair.

Keyaira, tester with hair type 3c/4a: “It really helped to lift any product in my hair. There was no trace of anything after I washed my hair with it. That felt great.”

Hair Type: Bleached, highlighted | Size: 8.5 oz | Scent: Light fruity | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Anyone with highlighted or bleached hair knows the struggle of keeping brassiness at bay. One easy way to maintain your cool blonde tones is by using a purple-tinted shampoo like this one from Nexxus. It’s even enriched with keratin to fortify and strengthen dye-frazzled strands. Our tester used this shampoo three to four times per week, leaving it to sit on her hair for up to four minutes as per the instructions. The lightweight formula cleaned her fine strands without weighing them down, and her hair felt more nourished after each use. Best of all, her highlights were refreshed, instantly cooler and brighter.

Ciara, a tester with hair type 1c: “The shampoo definitely helped to counteract the brassy and yellow tones of my hair. I am due for a highlight refresh, and this shampoo made me feel more confident and lighter in the last couple of weeks before my hair appointment.”

Hair Type: All | Size: 8.5 oz | Scent: Light fruity | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’ve just dropped hard-earned money on a fresh dye at the salon, the last thing you want is premature fading. A color-safe shampoo like this one from K18 is essential. Its pH-optimized formula contains a proprietary peptide blend designed to protect against protein loss, leaving hair strong and silky. Our tester said it lathered nicely, gently cleansing her scalp and strands and leaving them soft and clean. Between washes, she noticed her hair remained strong and healthy-feeling.

Megan, tester with hair type 1B: “My hair felt strong and healthy after using it. It didn't dry my hair out at all and really nourished my already-dry hair.”

Hair Type: Curly, wavy, coily | Size: 8.5 oz | Scent: Floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Curly hair can require a bit more TLC than straighter hair. The ringlet shape of the strands makes it harder for natural oils to travel down the hair shaft and provide natural moisture, leaving curly hair more prone to dryness and frizz. Ouidad’s Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo offers a curl-friendly wash that’s sulfate-free (sulfates are known to cause dryness) and enhanced with hydrating ceramides. Our tester appreciated how the lightweight formula didn’t weigh down her fine curls. It was also super gentle and didn't cause any irritation. However, it wasn’t the easiest to lather and spread (the downside of a sulfate-free formula), and you may find you need to double shampoo to get that deep, clean feeling.

Emma, a tester with hair type 3a: “It didn't weigh down my curls and felt very light on my hair, which made it easy to wash out.”

FAQ

• Can I use conditioner without shampoo?

  Some people prefer to use conditioner without shampoo, at least some of the time. This may work for some, especially if shampooing too frequently leaves your hair dry. Some people use an apple cider vinegar or baking soda rinse before conditioning. However, never using shampoo might leave you with too much oil and product buildup in your hair.

• How often should I shampoo my hair?

  How often you need to shampoo your hair will depend on your hair type and condition. Those with dry, damaged hair should aim to lather up three times a week, while oily hair types should shoot for every day or every other day. Curly hair may benefit from less frequent washing, as the natural oils can help reduce frizz and increase shine. If your hair is fine, washing every other day can help boost volume.

• What’s the best way to apply shampoo?

  Ignore everything you’ve seen in TV commercials. The best way to wash your hair does not involve piling it up on top of your head and scrubbing it around. Start by applying shampoo to your scalp and gently massaging it (a scalp massager tool can help), then smooth the suds down the hair shaft before rinsing thoroughly. Repeat the process as needed.